International Student Services

Maintaining F-1 Status

You must register full time for at least 12 credits for the fall and spring term unless you have an approved reduced course load (graduating term, medical, etc.). You will need to register for at least 9 credits of face-to-face and/or mixed mode credit hours. Any credits beyond that can be online or real time virtual. 

The fall term starts on Monday, August 19, 2024. The fee payment deadline is not until August 9, 2024. That means you can register early and will have significant time before payment is due. We recommend you register for fall classes as soon as possible so you can ensure you meet the onsite requirement. 

I’m an F-1 student. What do I need to do to maintain my status in Fall 2024 semester?

Students inside the U.S. 

• You must enroll full-time and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours. Any withdrawal from classes may impact your immigration status.
• You must enroll in at least 9 credits face to face and/or mix mode out of the 12 credits. 3 credits may be online or real time virtual.
• You must purchase the mandatory international student health insurance plan via myISS 

Students outside the U.S.

If you with to continue to study outside the US, please contact your ISS Coordinator to discuss terminating your F-1 status for authorized early withdrawal to take online classes outside the US as a distance learner. 

Back to top

PERT Virtual Testing
I need to take the PERT Placement Test. How can I do that?

The Assessment Center now offers PERT Honorlock virtual testing and onsite testing. For virtual testing you must have stable internet connection, computer/laptop with audio capabilities, and webcam. Please visit the Assessment Center Virtual Testing page for more information how to register and how to prepare for the PERT Honorlock Exam or onsite testing.

Back to top

Tax Information

View a recording of our most recent Live International Student Tax Workshop.

What is 1098-T Tuition Statement Form?

Form 1098-T is a statement from a college or university that indicates how much you have paid in tuition in the previous year. U.S. citizens and permanent residents can use this to receive a tax credit or reimbursement. Non-resident aliens are not eligible to receive this tax credit.

For more information about 1098-T Tuition Statement Form, visit 1098-T Tuition Payment Statement.

I am an international student and did not receive Form 1098-T. What should I do?

If you are a non-resident alien student and do not have U.S. source income (U.S. scholarships, awards, waivers, etc.) that is subject to tax, Valencia College is exempt from issuing a Form 1098-T to you, unless requested. Requests can be made by sending an email to BusinessOffice@Valenciacollege.edu.

For more information about 1098-T Tuition Statement Form, visit 1098-T Tuition Payment Statement.

I received an email from Valencia College requiring me to provide a valid social security number or Tax ID number. What should I do?

By law, Valencia College must ask once a year for your taxpayer identification number in order to meet its obligation to file Form 1098-T.

If you are a student with a social security number or international taxpayer identification number:

1. Fill out Part I and Part II of the  Request for Student's Taxpayer Identification Number form.
2. Upload this form and a copy of your SSN or ITIN card using the Financial Aid Office's Secure Document Upload Form. Please include your Valencia Identification "V" number (VID) on every document you submit. Or, if you are unable to submit your documents digitally, please mail your form and all related documents to us at: P.O. Box 3028 ATTN: Enrollment Services, Orlando, Florida 32802.

If you do not wish to provide your taxpayer identification number to Valencia College:

1. Fill out Part III of the  Request for Student's Taxpayer Identification Number form. Check the second box, then sign and date the form.
2. Upload this form using the Financial Aid Office's Secure Document Upload Form. Please include your Valencia Identification "V" number (VID) on every document you submit. Or, if you are unable to submit your documents digitally, please mail your form and all related documents to us at: P.O. Box 3028 ATTN: Enrollment Services, Orlando, Florida 32802.

IMPORTANT: Please DO NOT EMAIL any taxpayer information. Your Student Taxpayer Identification Number Form, copy of your Social Security/International Tax ID, or any other documentation that contains your taxpayer information SHOULD NOT be shared through email.

I do not have a Social Security Number or Tax ID, but I received an email from Valencia College asking for it. What should I do?

If you are an international student without an international taxpayer identification number:

1. Fill out Part III of the  Request for Student's Taxpayer Identification Number form. Check the first box and then sign and date the form.
2. Upload this form using the Financial Aid Office's Secure Document Upload Form. Please include your Valencia Identification "V" number (VID) on every document you submit. Or, if you are unable to submit your documents digitally, please mail your form and all related documents to us at: P.O. Box 3028 ATTN: Enrollment Services, Orlando, Florida 32802.

IMPORTANT: Please DO NOT EMAIL any taxpayer information. Your Student Taxpayer Identification Number Form, copy of your Social Security/International Tax ID, or any other documentation that contains your taxpayer information SHOULD NOT be shared through email. 

Am I required to file a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service?

If you were employed and earned income during the 2023 calendar year (January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023), you are required to file a tax return  form 1040NR AND  form 8843 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) before April 15, 2024. 

If you were employed and earned income during the 2023 calendar year, you should have received a W-2 or 1042-S forms (tax statements) from your employer. If you had multiple employers during the calendar year, you should receive a W-2 form from each employer. You will use the information on this form to file  1040NR.

I was not employed and I did not receive income during the 2023 calendar year. Am I still required to file a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service?

Yes. All nonresident aliens present in the U.S. under F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 non-immigrant status must file  form 8843 with the Internal Revenue Service even if they were not employed and did not earn any income in 2023.

Can I get help filing my tax returns?

We recommend that you use a program specifically designed for international students to assist you in completing your tax forms. One example is Sprintax,* an online self-preparation software for federal and state tax returns. A Federal tax return with Sprintax costs $49.95.

*Students are responsible for selecting their own tax software. Valencia College acts only as an agent providing information about Sprintax. It is understood and agreed that Valencia College assumes no responsibility for, nor guarantees performance of, and in no event shall be liable for, any loss, damage or claims associated with your use of Sprintax.

Will I get money back?

It depends on your individual circumstances. If you did not earn income and are only filing  form 8843, you will not receive a refund. If you earned income, whether you receive a tax return refund or you owe taxes will depend on the way you completed your W-4 Employee’s Withholding Certificate Form. Based on the information provided by you on the W-4 form, your employer has determined what is the correct federal income tax that was withheld from your pay. Once you complete your tax return forms, you will see if you owe taxes or if you will receive a refund and the exact amount.

My friends say I could get a refund back from a tax service with the 1098-T. Is this right?

No! Nonresident students are not eligible for the education tax credit associated with the 1098-T. Some tax preparation offices may offer international students the refund without understanding the differences between resident and nonresident aliens.

Back to top

Travel

All F-1 students returning to the United States will need a travel signature on the second page of their Form I-20.

How can I get a travel signature?

• If you have a travel signature is valid within one year of your entry into the US, you do not need a new travel signature.
• If you do not have a valid travel signature, you may submit a request through myISS at least three weeks before your planned return date to the United States and we will issue you a digitally signed Form I-20.
• If you have renewed any of your immigration documents (passport or visa) and have not provided a copy to the ISS office, please do so using the Document Update form through myISS. Your Travel signature request may be delayed if we do not have your updated information.
• If you are currently on OPT, your travel signature is valid only for six months. If you need a new signature, please submit a request through myISS. We strongly recommend that you do not travel outside the U.S. without your EAD Card and without an employment offer letter.

Other things to consider:

• Travel Signature – Do you have a valid travel signature on your I-20? If not, you may submit a request through myISS and we will issue you a digitally signed Form I-20. Instructions will be provided to your Atlas email address.

  If you are currently on OPT, your travel signature is valid only for 6 months. If you need a new signature, please submit a request for travel signature through myISS.

• Visa – Do you have a valid (unexpired) F-1 visa? Be mindful that we still anticipate delays in renewing your visa at some U.S. Embassies and Consulates in some countries.

• Passport – Do you have valid (unexpired) passport? You passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your planned return to the U.S.

Please be sure to check the following sites for up-to-date information, resources, and the latest travel advisories:

• NAFSA: Association for International Educators – Resources
• U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories

Back to top

Economic Hardship

I heard that international students can apply for an off-campus work permit due to Economic Hardship? How can I apply?

One condition of approval for F-1 nonimmigrant status is that a student shows the ability to pay for his/her education and support while in the United States. Students who experience severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond their control may request employment authorization to work off-campus from United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), if they meet certain requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must have been in F-1 status for one full academic year at Valencia College.
• You must be in good academic standing with cumulative GPA at least 2.0. Students on Academic Warning or Probation are not eligible.
• You must be a current F-1 student carrying a full course load of study.
• You must demonstrate severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control.
  • Loss of on-campus employment without fault on your part
  • On-campus employment opportunities are not available or insufficient
  • Substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate
  • Unexpected changes in the financial condition of their sponsor
  • Medical bills
  • Other substantial and unexpected expenses
• You must demonstrate that acceptance of employment will not interfere with your ability to maintain a full course of study.

Things to Consider

• Processing times vary greatly and could take months to receive a decision due to USCIS office closures that create backlogs of applications. https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
• Approval is not guaranteed.
• Application fee is expensive and non-refundable.
• If approved, part-time employment is limited to no more than 20 hours per week when school is in session. Full-time employment is permissible only during holidays or school vacation.
• Employment authorization may be granted one year at a time. It can be renewed following the same application process.
• If you are graduating and/or transferring to another school, your EAD will be cancelled.
• If you are eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)/Internship, that might be a better option for you. valenciacollege.edu/internship
• If approved, you cannot engage in off-campus employment until you receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS with start and end date of employment.
• If approved, employment does not need to be related to your field of study.
• If approve, you must continue to maintain full-time enrollment of 12 credit hours during fall and spring terms.
• You must maintain good academic standing and continue to make satisfactory academic progress towards your degree.

How to Apply

Students must submit the following documents to the International Student Services office via myISS:

• Letter of explanation describing in details your personal financial needs, the unforeseen circumstances that require you to seek employment authorization, and the unavailability or insufficiency of on-campus employment to meet your needs.
• Supporting materials documenting the unforeseen nature of the economic hardship including a list of assets, income, and expenses.
• Official academic transcript & current enrollment/class schedule.
• Completed Form I-765. You MUST use the electronic version, a fillable .pdf form and type in your responses. Do not handwrite the form. Part 2, Item #27 should be completed as (c)(3)(iii). www.uscis.gov/i-765.
• Copies of current Form I-20 and any previously issued Form I-20(s).
• Photocopy of passport biographical page with picture, expiration date page, visa page, copy of I-94 arrival & departure record.
• Two new 2x2 full frontal color passport photos with your name and I-94 number written in pencil on the back.
• Check/Money Order/Bank Check for $410 made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Indicate I-94 number on check for identification purposes. Please note that USCIS fees are non-refundable and subject to change. To verify, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Is there any financial assistance for international students?

Here are some resources currently available for international students.

Valencia College Foundation Scholarships

The Valencia College Foundation offers a number of privately funded scholarships to support current students. I highly encourage you to submit an application through the Valencia College Foundation’s Scholarship Application Portal to be considered.

Out-of-State Tuition Waiver Scholarship Programs through International Linkage Institutes

International students from certain countries or regions are also eligible for out-of-state tuition waivers through Florida Linkage Institutes administered by other institutions.

Assistance and Public Charge Implications

Am I eligible for health care, housing, food, unemployment, and other assistance programs? How would that impact my immigration status?

Broadly speaking, any federal, state, local or tribal cash assistance for income maintenance, food assistance, and government housing assistance would make a nonimmigrant a Public Charge. International students should review the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Rule. prior to accepting or seeking any federal, state, local or tribal financial support.

Back to top

Scams

International students have frequently been targets of a variety of scams using phone, email, social media, and other means. The scammer will identify themselves as a police officer, IRS, government official, or college official and threaten dismissal from the college, deportation from the U.S., arrest, or dropped classes unless you immediately pay money to the government or college. Payment demanded by the scammer is usually made via money order, wire transfer, gift cards, or other difficult to track payment methods. The college, a police department, or the U.S. government will never call you directly and demand immediate payment over the phone.

What should I do if I receive a call demanding payment and threatening my immigration or academic status?

• Hang up immediately! The scammers are extremely aggressive and will try to keep you on the phone. Do not listen to their threats.
• If you are unsure about whether or not the call was a scam, please contact the ISS Office via phone at 407-582-5830 or via email at iss@valenciacollege.edu.
• Do not perform a wire transfer or purchase moneygrams, green dot cards, or any other cash payments to provide to the caller.
• Refer to the ICE Public Safety Alert for more information on imposters awareness.

Back to top

Getting Ready for Hurricane Season

What should I do in the event of a hurricane?

Hurricane season in the Atlantic ocean runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. Due to the potential impact hurricanes may have on Central Florida, we would like to caution you and provide you with information and resources to prepare you and ensure your safety. There is much you can do to prepare, know your risks and stay informed as well as avoid a last-minute rush to stores.

• Should there be a potential for an impacted by a hurricane in the Orlando area, a decision could be made to close campuses. That decision will be communicated via Valencia Alerts, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Atlas email and the Valencia College website.
  • CHECK YOUR ATLAS E-MAIL AT LEAST ONCE A DAY for official notifications from the College.
  • Watch your local news channels for updates.
• Prepare and do not panic. Take precautions and build a hurricane safety kit, which should allow you to survive on your own for 72 hours without electricity and water. A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
  • Documents – put all of your important documents (e.g. passport, I-20, etc.) in a Ziploc bag to prevent from getting wet
  • Water - one gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food - at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food that does not require cooking or heating
  • Medication – make sure you have a 3-day supply of any prescription medication as well as over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol, Aleve, Advil, etc.
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlight
  • Extra batteries
  • Gas - fill up your car with gas in case of gas shortage in the days during and after the storm
  • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Manual can opener for food
  • Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

To learn hurricane terms and more ways to prepare, visit the Hurricane Ready Website.

• Expect places like Walmart, Publix, etc. to be very crowded and supplies to run low; everyone is preparing for the storm. So you should make this a priority and prepare your emergency kit as soon as possible.
• Please be safe during the storm. You should remain indoors at all times. Remember that if a hurricane cancels classes, it is not a vacation. It means the threat to our safety is so great, it is safer for everyone to stay at home and prepare for the storm. Do not ride your bikes anywhere. Do not Uber anywhere. People have been seriously injured and lost their lives during these storms. It is possible that the City of Orlando issues a mandatory curfew. This means that you must remain indoors and you may get arrested if driving or walking outside.
• Finally, we encourage you to reach out to your families and keep them updated of the weather conditions as well as your well-being. Please remember that there is a good chance for many of us to lose electricity and internet connection during and after the storm so your family and friends might not be able to get in touch with you. Please ensure your loved ones that you are making plans and preparing for the storm and you will communicate with them as soon as you are able.

How do I sign up for Valencia Alerts?

In case of an emergency, all students will be notified via Valencia Alerts to their cell phone, home phone, email or via the Valencia Security Safety App. It’s extremely important that you make sure your Valencia Alert contact information is correct.

• To confirm or update your contact information login and go to the Atlas Tools channel - Update my Personal Information - Update Address(es) and Phone(s).
• To sign up for Valencia Alerts, login and go to the Valencia Alerts channel in Atlas.
• Download the Valencia Security Safety App now.

Back to top